Second Meeting with Women from Middle East 2016, Bari, Italy

Telegram of the Holy Father and greeting from St. Peter's Square

On the starting day of the Second Conference with the Women from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, organised by WUCWO, together with FIAC and ACI, in Bari (October 19-23, 2016), Pope Francis publicly greeted the participants during the audience on Wednesday October 19 in St. Peter's Square and sent the following telegram to them.

TELEGRAM OF THE HOLY FATHER

To the Most Reverend Monsignor Francesco CACUCCI

Archbishop of BARI

For the Second Conference with the Women from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, with the title “Women, workers of peace towards a culture of meeting and dialogue”, organised by the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations, together with the International Forum Catholic Action and the Azione Cattolica Italiana, during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, encouraging everybody to charitably perform the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, the Holy Father Pope Francis directs His well-wishing thoughts and warmly greets all the women participating, especially those coming from the Middle East and from countries marked by social conflicts, poverty, and discriminations.

He hopes for the presence of women to grow bigger and for their work to look for occasions for meeting, knowledge, and dialogue to grow more intense. He also hopes that the common commitment for building a future of prosperity and peace will yield good results as for both human and social growth, and that it will contribute to the reconciliation between human beings and to a new harmony between nations.

His Holiness invokes the light of the Holy Spirit for a fruitful reflection and, asking for everybody to pray to support His Petrine ministry, by intercession of the Virgin Mary, heartfully gives the implored Apostolic Blessing to the Most Reverend Bishop, the organisers, the speakers, and all the participants.

Cardinal Pietro PAROLIN – Secretary of State of His Holiness

Final Declaration of the Second Conference with the Women from the Middle East and the Mediterranean

Press coverage of the Conference

Click here to see the press coverage (in Italian)

Click here to download the programme

Click here to see a video